One-piece zipper puller

Abstract

A zipper puller ( 110 ) has a one piece structure including a molded plastic body ( 112 ) and an integral molded looped tether ( 114 ). The looped tether is molded in a first size and shape, and after molding the looped tether is permanently deformed to a second size and second shape by aligning the crystalline structure of the looped tether material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A one-piece zipper puller to suspend from a hole in a zipper handle, comprising:
 a single, integrally-formed elastomeric puller body having a puller body crystalline structure; 
 an elastomeric tether integral with said puller body, said tether formed and molded as an endless loop having a length extending from said puller body; 
 said endless loop having flexibility along said length sufficient for said puller body to pass through a distal end portion of said endless loop with said endless loop received in the hole of the zipper handle; 
 said tether having a crystalline structure aligned in the direction of said length; and 
 said crystalline structure of said tether being more aligned than the crystalline structure of said puller body. 
 
     
     
       2. The one-piece zipper puller of  claim 1 , said tether and said body being of the same elastomeric material. 
     
     
       3. The one-piece zipper puller of  claim 1 , said tether and said body being a monolithic structure of different materials. 
     
     
       4. The one-piece zipper puller of  claim 1 , said body including a hole for receiving an insert. 
     
     
       5. The one-piece zipper puller of  claim 1 , said body provided with a grip enhancing surface configuration. 
     
     
       6. The one-piece zipper puller of  claim 1 , said tether including a proximal solid rib portion and a distal loop portion. 
     
     
       7. A method for manufacturing a zipper puller to suspend from a hole in a zipper handle, including steps of:
 molding a zipper puller body and an endless looped tether integral with the zipper puller body as a one-piece molding, said endless looped tether having molded thickness, length, flexibility and strength, wherein said step of molding comprises integrally forming and molding the zipper puller body as a single unitary piece; and 
 processing the endless looped tether to align the crystalline structure thereof by permanently deforming the endless looped tether from its as molded thickness, length and flexibility to a decreased thickness, increased length and increased flexibility; 
 said step of processing performed to achieve a desired strength along the length of the endless looped tether different from the strength of the endless looped tether as molded; and 
 said step of processing performed to increase the length, strength and flexibility sufficiently for said zipper puller body to pass through a distal end of said endless looped tether with said endless looped tether received in the hole of the zipper handle. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , said step of processing including stretching. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , said step of processing including pressing. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , said step of processing performed to achieve a desired flexibility in the looped tether different than the flexibility in the looped tether as molded. 
     
     
       11. A one-piece zipper puller, comprising:
 a single, integrally-formed elastomeric puller body having a first elastomeric crystalline structure; 
 an elastomeric tether integral with said puller body; 
 said tether defining an endless loop having a length extending from said puller body, said endless loop being of sufficient size and flexibility to be doubled back on itself and receive said puller body passed through said loop; and 
 said tether having a second elastomeric crystalline structure different from said first elastomeric crystalline structure. 
 
     
     
       12. The one-piece zipper puller of  claim 11 , said tether having a crystalline structure aligned in the direction of said length.